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Analysis of water for US astronauts. Researcher holding a sample of drinking water used for space missions by American astronauts. Analysis of this water confirms the absence of impurities. Drinking water used by astronauts on long-term missions, such as those to the International Space Station (ISS), is purified to reduce the chances of microbial growth. Pure water also reduces the amount of maintenance needed on the plumbing. Various systems are also being tested for complete on-board recycling of the water the astronauts use. This analytical work is being carried out by SMAT (the Turin Metropolitan Water Society), in Italy.